St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1887-12-07
The REGULAR ARMY.
The Secretary Of War Trans
mits His Annual Report
to Congress.
A Lamentable Lack of Money
to Meet Necessary
Expenses.
Conditions Under Which a
Little Extra Cash Could
Be Well Expended.
The Indian Question - The
Coasts ''Defended' by a Lot
-. of Worthless Cannon.

WASHINGTON, Dee. 6.-The annual
report of the secretary of war. trans
mitted to congress to-day, shows that
the expenditures made by the depart
ment during the last fiscal year
amounted to $41, 1856, 165. The estimates
for the next fiscal year aggregate S53,-
S3S,71O, against all appropriation for the
current year of S31, 055, 302. The increase
is caused by the incorporation of an
estimate of S222;;33339, Isl for public works,
including river and harbor improve
ments, the expenditures on this account
for the current year amounting to only
Sl.30S, 400. There is also an increase of
alb out s., 900 in the estimate for the
military establishment and the army
and military academy. The secretary
says: The estimates for salaries and
contingent expenses for the fiscal year
ending June 80. 1889, are considerably
less than the appropriation for the cur
rent wear. The estimates for the military
establishment are based upon the actual
requirements of the service. During
recent years the appropriation for the
transportation of the army has been
INADEQUATE TO MEET THE COST,
and the failure to appropriate funds for
that service has caused much embar
TasSment, and greatly increased the
labor in settling such accounts. The
estimates for improving rivers and har-
bors represent the probable cost of such
Improvements if approved by congress.
The report says that the buildings, forti-
cations, public works and grounds in
the division of the Atlantic are every
where in need of repair and reconStruc-
ton. On the entire Atlantic and Gulf
cOaSt-line of 2,S70 miles, and the north
ern frontier of $3.50 miles the sole
armament is 142 ritied guns, of which
116 are obsolete and of very low power.
Even the few serviceable rified
guns that are mounted are
Of but little value. Some of
them are mounted on old carriages and
all are without adequate protection.
The secretary refers to Gen. Schofield's
recommendation that at least one eight
inch muZZle-lOading gun, with appli
anceS for target practice, and one or
more of the new breech-lOading guns
and mOrtars be furnished to each mill
tary post, with a view to the improve
ment of the artillery instruction. He
says, however, that the department is
unable to comply with the request, as
We have no guns suitable for such tar
get practice and technical instruction.
This division is garriSOned mainly by
artillery, fOur-fifthS of the officers and
men of that arm being stationed within
its limits. In no branch of the service
is technical instruction and daily eX
pertinent and practice in the use of its
weapons more demanded than in the
artillery. 1t is earnestly hoped that
IF GUNS CAN NOT BE HAD
for Notifications, appropriations can be
made for the purchase or manufacture
of enough guns to employ the artillery
and fit them for any emergency.
Touching Geronimo and his fellow cap
tives, now confined at FOurt Pickens
and Mt Vernon barracks, the report
says that they are contented, perform
their work with alacrity and thus far
their conduct has been excellent. At
this time it is difficult matter to find
fer them permanent home. For many
reasons it is impossible to return them
to Arizona. Under existing laws they
can not be taken to the Indian territory,
and in the Northern reservations the
climate is too cold for them. Pending a
final decision they can remain where
they are in comfort and safety. In the
division of the Missouri, during the past
year, ii become necessary to patrol
the Oklahoma country, in the
Indian territory, to keep out intruderS
and to protect the Indian reservations.
A considerable body of troops have been
constantly engaged on this duty, and
there have been no serious disturbances.
A brief history is included in the report
of the difficulty that arose in August
last in Colorado between the state
authorities and ColOrOw's band of Utes,
and it is said that some effort should
certainly be made for the restitution of
their property TO the Indians. The sec
rotary strongly approves of the recon-
mendatiOn contained in Gen. Sheridan'S
report touching the extension of all pos
sible aid by the general government to
the. national guard of the different
states, and suggesting system of
national encampmentS for state militia
at the entire expense of the national
government. Attention is called to the
fact that the Pacific coast is destitute of
Notifications, guns and armament of
every description, while San Francisco
is without single gun which can be
fired with safety with present charges
of powder and modern prOjectileS.
Favorable endorsement is also given to
the lieutenant generals recommends
ton that the present strength of the
army be increased by 5000 men, and
particular attention is called to the i'm
pOrtance of an increase of the artillery
arm of the service and certain changes
in the present organization of artillery
regiments. The schools of instruction,
the secretary says, afford
ADMIRABLE POST-GRADUATE COURSES
of study, and it will be necessary, as it
is desirable, that every officer should
take his tour of study in order that he
may be fully equipped for his duty. He
trusts that the bill introduced in the
senate at the last session requiring the
examination of officers for promotion
may be passed by congress. He thinks
that the permanently disabled officers
should be at once retired, and hopes
that congress will authorize sufficient
increase of the retired list to accomplish
the purpose. An illustrated catalogue
of the army medical museum, he says,
would be of great value to science. A
large portion of it is already prepared
and authority from congress to publish
it is earnestly requested. a larger ap-
preparation for binding is urg
emily required. The secretary
suggests that the number of
court martial trials can be much re-
duced if provision be made for punish
ment of minor OffenSeS without sum-
mOning a court martial, as indicated in
the annual report of 1886. The secre-
tary renewS the recommendation in re-
gard to the enactment of laws for the
punishment of civilian witnesses who
refuse to testify; for authority to secure
the assistance of civilians and police
offioarc ri, arracfinO and holding dacart-